Career with the Texas Tech University System
In 2010,Mitchell began his career in academic administration joining the Texas Tech University System as president [7] of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. During his tenure,Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso was established as a standalone institution in 2013 (the TTU System's fourth university), [8] the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center University Center in Lubbock was expanded, [9] and facilities expansions occurred in Odessa,Amarillo,Abilene,and Dallas. [10] In 2019,Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center achieved record enrollment,becoming the top Texas health-related academic institution based on the number of health care professional graduates. [11]
On October 25,2018,the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents named Mitchell the fifth chancellor of the TTU System. [2] Following the appointment,he served in the dual role of TTU System chancellor and TTUHSC president for approximately one year,until Nov. 1,2019,when Lori Rice-Spearman,TTUHSC provost and chief academic officer,was named interim TTUHSC president. [12]
In 2019,a delegation led by Mitchell [13] urged the 86th Texas Legislature [14] to approve and fund a new Texas Tech University veterinary school [15] in Amarillo (Texas's first new veterinary school since 1916), [16] and a new dental school [17] at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (the state's first since 1971). [18]
In 2023,Mitchell led the effort to have the 88th Texas Legislature create the Texas University Fund (TUF),an endowment designed to provide additional annual research dollars to universities not eligible for money from the Permanent University Fund (PUF) endowment. [19] This passed the legislature and was signed by Governor Greg Abbott in June of 2023. [20] Afterwards,it required an additional step with a change to the Texas Constitution,which was successfully passed by the citizens of Texas in November of that year.
In 2025,Mitchell led the effort to work with members of the 89th Texas Legislature to secure Texas Tech University System’s largest budgetary success in its history,approximately $3.7 billion. [21]
During his tenure as Chancellor,the Texas Tech University System experienced record enrollment growth [22] ,academic success (number of new programs and schools),research success (total and federal funding),budgetary success with the Texas Legislature,and philanthropic success,securing over $1.5 billion in support from donors.
Mitchell also established a unique,system-wide values-based culture,identifying several shared values that team members use to establish a set of guiding principles employees can follow to hold themselves and others accountable day to day. [23] Using this values-based culture approach as a foundation,he also established multiple leader development programs around the Texas Tech University System,designed to provide employees and students with skills in problem solving,critical thinking,and character development for use in their personal and professional lives. [24]
